Armed Gunman Seen in Woods Near Mall

11 October 2002 | WJLA TV

[11th_VA]

WJLA TV in Washington DC just reported a woman called police tonight after seeing an armed gunman 'in the woods' near Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg, MD.

[B Knotts]

Nah. If you look at what's going on, this guy (or guys, or gals) is hunting people. He or she is seeking people in their "native habitat" (and in a place with a sufficient "blind" to shoot from. And the gas station thing even adds to the animal rights/eco-nut possibility.

If concerned about politics and I are correct, the hangup this person has is about hunting. And, you know, it's hunting season in many parts of the country about now.

Also, consider where this is happening. Not far from the nation's capitol. A prime place for an activist to live.

This could be way off, but, heck...it's as least as lucid as what most of the idiots on the talking head shows are saying.

[ET(end tyranny)]

Yeah, at least 2.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Wasn't the one b/4 this one, the first night time murder?

[poppyseed]

Has this shooter done any night work? So far I only remember daylight shootings.

Wednesday night's shooting in Manassas was around 8:15 p.m.; it was dark here. At the least, the end of twilight. Also, the shooting in DC last week was at night, IIRC. There may be another night shooting, but there have been at least two.

[Libertina]

LOL If that's a helpful hint, I live in the other Washington. But I do go to the shows occasionally and even our Chaper shoot. But what I need is some fire arms training in an ongoing/ class situation. There are some women's groups that offer them and one day I will take one. Thanks :)

[ET(end tyranny)]

No. There was a 72 year old man that was killed at night.

[Libertina]

oooo! You be bad! ;)

[skr]

Or they could announce that at least it's safe around police stations. Nahhh, he/she/they probably wouldn't fall for that one.

[11th_VA]

If you look at what's going on, this guy (or guys, or gals) is hunting people.

YOU GOT THAT RIGHT

Lt. Col. John Patterson sits next to one of the two infamous man-eating Tsavo lions that he hunted down and killed in 1898-99. Patterson later said the pair of lions, known then as 'Ghost' and 'Darkness,' killed more than 130 railway workers in Kenya and eluded him for months. (R. J. Patterson/The Field Museum VIA Reuters)

[Libertina]

and save us the trouble!
Agreed

[Lawdoc]

I don't know if anyone has come up with this convoluted, psychotic M.O. (I have to credit my bride for most of this theory) - Is it possible this/these terrorist(s) (this is terrorism by definition at this point), case location(s), lay in wait, when one of the ubiquitous white vans drive by, fire at a target of opportunity (or maybe if they are really wacked in the head - their god tells them to tap the next guy they see after a white van passes - whatever - hence the god reference), people in the now suspect white van are clueless, eye witnesses if any report the presence of the van, in chaos and while everyone is drawing down on all the folks in the area with white vans, the shooter/spotter egresses, perhaps taking a major roadway out in any vehicle other than a white van.

Would this be plausible for each of the attacks? I have no clue as to the probability of this M.O. being possible and have no desire to try to think like these sick criminals.

The interesting thing is that these crimes are prosecutable federally and that could be the fast track to Terra Haute and a big dirt nap. No state court appeals, one round of direct appeals and habeas petitions, lights out fairly quickly by the standards of state death penalty cases. I am sure the D.O.J. would love to have this matter in a district (like Northern Virginia) with the 4th Cir. Court of Appeals (rocket docket). Unless they qualify for an all expense paid trip to Gitmo. :)

[tgslTakoma]

I knew that you were out in the left coast area, but saw a few folks posting here from this area - and wanted to share the show info with anyone who might need to stock up on stuff before the Brady Campaign, in concert with Connie Morella, tries to ram through some more anti-gun legislation in knee-jerk response to the SOB sniper. Connie was talking on the radio this morning, I think, and saying that she would be sponsoring some sort of national ballistic fingerprinting legislation next week in congress.

[Denver Ditdat]

What you want to select for and sort on is the absence of 1.) phone calls 2.) movies 3.) room service 4.) wake-up/alarm calls 5.) sloughed skin cells on bedsheets.

Yikes. Had it not been for #5, I'd be pinged every time I stay in a hotel. I seldom make calls, always take a book for entertainment, eat at a restaurant within walking distance, and use a travel alarm clock to back up the clock radio normally in the room.

Never thought dandruff would be a saving factor!

[exhaustedmomma]

The truck driver was in the parking lot of the hotel where he said it all happened. I dunno... you obviously know more about this than I do!:) Only question I would have to you is how would soldiers know where shots were coming from... unless of course they were going by whizzes over their heads?? (Not trying to be smart-alec... really wondering.) Truck driver didn't mention anything about hearing any whizz-noise over his head... or anything except the boom-noise. Why would it be really, really, really hard to detect direction?

[VaBthang4]

Git'him Cobalt!

[John Jamieson]

He also said, another woman said that the white van was driven by a woman.

[tracer]

If he's near the library, he may well be Professor Plum. Perhaps he was carrying a pipe that was mistaken for a "gun" (should be "rifle" unless it's a shotgun).

If not, then I don't have a Clue....

[col kurz]

A minor perspective. While one screwball sniper holds 4 million Washingtonians in "terror", imagine one hundred Al Quadia snipers roaming throughout the Country! Always thought we were the "Home of the Brave". Hope they'll not notice...Oh, Lance Corporal Tony Sledd will be buried next week in Tampa, appriciate all those able to attend.. Sorry if I'am "oversharing"....

[tracer]

Yes. Lost Knife Road and a bad-ass apartment complex. If he strays into that area, he'll learn how that street got its name.

I think I'll go and see if I can salvage his rifle after they ice him. There's a gun show coming up at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds less than a mile away.... ?? <8~) ??

[B Knotts]

He also said, another woman said that the white van was driven by a woman.

Another data item that argues in favor of your PETA/ELF theory.